Feeding mechanism for bottle packing machines



Au 12, 1941'. w D. KIMBALL 2,252,127

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE PAGKINGMACHINES Filed Feb. 11, 1938 'Tsheets -sheet 1 muuc: 0. mumu BY M M kw Zia-m1, ll/s ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1941. w. D. KIMBALL 2,252,127

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE PACKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 11', 1938 7 sheetswshaet 2 lNVENTOR W/MLACE' 0. ff/Mfi/ILL f/ls ATTORNEY Aug. 12 w. D. K MB ALL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLIE PACKINGMACHINBS Filed Feb. 11, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ;&

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INVENTOR WALLACE a lf/MBALL M ,7 1, HM ATTORNEYS we 1 Ema n. KIM BALL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE PACKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 11, 1938 7 Shee'ts-Sheet 4- Aug, 12, 1941.. w. D. KlMBALL FEEDING MEcHANIsM FOR sown". mcxme wmcamss Filed Feb. 11, 1938 TSheets-Shgetj INVENTOR MM/ICE 0. mam/ILL W. D. KIMBALL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE PACKIN? MACHINES Filed Feb. 11. 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet a l lNVENTOR l V/ILZACE a. lf/MBALD BY M, M2JM$ /f/S ATTORNEYS A: w. D, KIMBALL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE PACKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 11, 1958' 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR MLL/ME 0. l'f/MBALL Hrs ATTORNEYS it tenie ug. 111 1941 rm'ague n t non norms racers lWlS Wallace It. Kimball, Jackson Heights, N. IA, as-

signor to Standard-pp @crporation, Kong Island @ity, N. IL, a corporation oi New Work Application ltebrnary II, 393$, derialNo. 189,91?

it maime- This invention relates to machines for packarticles in cases for shipment or storage, and, more especially, to mechanism for automatically feeding the cases into proper position to receive the charge of articles and then releasing or discharging the filled cases from'the machine.

Articles such as bottles or cans of food products or beverages, as well as packages of cereal, soap and the like are ordinarily packed for shipment in cases made of corrugated board, fibreboard, wood, or other suitable material. In one form of apparatus for packing the articles in these cases, the articles are assembled by means of appropriate mechanism to form a charge corresponding in, dimensions to the size of the case to be packed. and the charge is then passed by gravity through a charge-directing mechanism into the case. This charge-directing mechanism may be arranged to handle the charge with all oi the articles composing the charge in contact with one another, or it may be arranged to direct or guide each one of the articles separately and individually, as is necessary in packing cell cases, that is to say, cases which are provided with suitable partitioning devices to prevent breakage or damage by mutual contact or rubbing of the articles during transit.

When the articles are to be -packed in collapsible cases which are shipped to th user in the fiat, the operator of the packing machine unfolds and straightens up the cases and places them on the loading table or the packing machine by hand. There are instances, however, as, for example, in the handling of beverages such as Coca Cola" or the like where itis desired to pack bottles containing the beverage in non-collapsible cases such as wooden trays provided with cells for the, individual bottles. In such instances, that is to say, where the cases do not have to be unfolded and set up from the flat, it is desirable to arrange for the cases to be fed automatically to the packing machine.

In order to provide this automatic feed or the I cases to be packed it is not'a question of merely arranging a conveyor to carry a line of empty cases beneath the charge-directing mechanism of the packing machine. Not only must the cases be brought into register with the mouth of the charge-directing mechanism, but also, in order to properly direct the charge intothe case, the mouth of the'directing mechanism must be made to enter the top of the case, and if the cases are moved laterally into position beneath the chargedirectlng mechanism at the proper elevation to ve the charge, the upper edge of the case will be abote the lower portion of the chargedirecting mechanism. Attempts have heretofore been made to overcome this difficulty by making the lower portion of this mechanism yielding, or flexible, so that as the case is moved laterally into position this yielding, or flexible, lower part of the charge-directing mechanism will be pushed to one side sufliciently to allow it to spring over the forward edge of the case. This arrangement, however, has been found unsatisfactory in operation, and the object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for automatically positioning cases successively in charge-receiving position or in engagement with the charge-directing mechanism without causing a lateral displacement of the mouth of this mechanism by the case, even though it is customary to make the lower portion of this mechanism of a yielding, or flexible, nature for other reasons.

The invention will be understood from a consideration of theaccompanying drawings which show one embodiment of the invention by way of example. In these drawings the invention is shown as being embodied in amachine for packing bottles such, for example, as Coca Cola bottles, in wooden cell cases which have individual cells, or compartments, for each bottle of the charge. It will be understood that instead of packing bottles in wooden cases, the machine is also adapted to handle cases made of other materials, such, for example, as cartons made of corrugated flbreboard and the like, and to pack therein other articles, such, for example, as either round or square cans, soap, packages of cereal, etc. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of such a bottle packing machine provided with the automatic box or case-feeding mechanism of the present invention, certain parts of this mechanism being omitted in this view, however, for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken from the front end of the machine. The cases come in from the right and are discharged at the left of the machine as shown in this view; r

Fig, 3 is a view partly in side elevation looking from the left-hand side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, and partly in section, the section being taken on broken line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but looking from the opposite, or right hand, side of the machine and taken in verticalsection on the plane H of Figs. 1, 2 and 6;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on plane 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on plane 6-6 of Fig. 5. It shows the case-feeding mechanism in plan view and in reality is a view quite similar to Fig. 1, the upper part, or packing mechanism, of the machine removed; and

Figs. '7 to 10, inclusive, are enlarged and somewhat diagrammatic views for the purpose of more clearly showing the operation of certain details'of the mechanism.

In plants where such cases are used there is usually a department where the cases are made, or damaged cases are reconstructed, or cleaned, or both, and it is customary for the cases to be carried from such department by-means of a rolller conveyor to the packing machine. The end of such a conveyor adjacent thepacking machine is indicated at l, and it will be understood that the cases may be arranged in a chance formation on this conveyor, sometimes being spaced from one another at different distances apart, and at other times, and more usually, being in end to end contact forming a continuous line adjacent the packing machine.

The mechanism of the present invention provides for taking the empty cases one at a time from conveyor I, elevating them into filling position within the packing machine, and then lowering them after being filled with bottles and discharging them from the machine onto a suit-- able conveyor by means of which the cases are carried along to the next operation or to the delivery or storage room. The filled cases are preferably lowered to the same level at which I they came into the machine before being elevated to filling position. a

Before describing this case-handling, or feeding, mechanism, however, the charge-assembling and packing mechanism will be described as briefly as possible. Referring to Fig. 1, the charge-assembling mechanism is indicated generally by reference numeral 2, and the chargedirecting mechanism by numeral 3 (see the other figures). The bottles come into the machine on a wide belt 4 shown in Fig. 1 in four lanes 5, being held in these lanes by suitable guide bars or rails 6 mounted in fixed position above belt 4. This belt is driven by means of a drum, or roll, I fixed to a shaft 8 which is driven by means of a chain 9 from a sprocket I mounted on a low speed shaft ll of a reduction gearing 2. The high speed shaft l3 of this reduction gearing is belt driven from an electric motor l4, and all of the power for operating the machine is supplied by this motor and delivered through the reduction gearing l2 to the low speed shaft H and to a second low speed shaft l which drives the case-feeding mechanism and which will be referred to again later.

Belt 4 carries the bottles up to a point above driving roll I and then delivers them onto a series of narrow supporting rails l6, the ends of which are pointed, as-shown in Fig. 4 so as to extend in close proximity to the moving surface of belt 41. Four of these rails l6 are arranged midway of the lanes 5 of Fig. 1, which places them on the same spacing as the guide bars 6, which is just enoughgreater than the diameter of the bottles to permit the bottles to pass freely between them. A fifth member H, which is similar in construction to rails l6, but which never serves the purpose of supporting bottles, is arranged to the right of the outside guide bar 6.

As the bottles are moved onto the supporting rails It by belt 4, they are maintained in upright position by means of shiftable plates it of the charge-assembling mechanism 2, which are fixed upon a pair of cross rods H! in spaced relation and in alinement with the ends of the ment with the long dwell 31.

on shaft ll of the reducing gear I2.

guide bars 6 and spaced apart by the same distance as the supporting rails It.

When six bottle have been received upon each of the rails I6 between the shiftable plates i8, that is to say, a full charge, plates l8 are shifted to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5, by a distance equal to /2 of the spacing of rails I6, thereby bringing the plat'es I8 into vertical alinement with rails l6 and the outside right-hand plate l8 into alinement with member II. This causes the four rows of bottle constituting the charge to descend vertically by gravity and drop through the charge-directing mechanism 3, a part of which is constituted by the rails l6 and member ll, into a case 20 which has been appropriately positioned beneath and with respect to the charge-directing mechanism 3.

In order to provide for shifting the plates l8 bodily as a unit, the cross rods l9, upon which the plates are mounted, are pivoted at their ends upon the upper ends of four equal length arms 2|, two of which are pinned to a rock shaft 22 on the right side of the machine, and two of which are pinned to a rock shaft 23 on the lefthand side of the machine., Shafts 22 and 23 are journalled in brackets on the frame of the machine. Shaft 23 on the left-hand side of the machine is somewhat longer than shaft 22, and its bearings are indicated at 24 and 25. The rocking of this shaft imparts the motion to arms l9 which causes the shifting movement of plates This rocking movement is accomplished by means of a tension spring 26 whose action is controlled by means of a disc cam 21 which is mounted upon a shaft 28 parallel with shaft 8 of the roll I, but below the same. This shaft is driven by means of a chain 29 from a sprocket Tension spring 23 is connected at one end to a bracket St on the machine frame and at the other to the upper end of an arm 32 extending upwardly from a hub 33 which is loose upon shaft 23. The continuously rotating cam 2! acts upon a roller 34 which is carried at the lower end of a. second arm 35 which extends downwardly from hub 33. When the control mechanism, which will be described presently, permits shaft 23 to be rocked by the tension of spring 26, roller 34 foli 'ws the contour of cam 21 and as the projection 36 of the cam rotates, the roller moves into engage- The consequent rockingof hub 33 and arm 32 is transmitted to shaft 23 by means of a bell crank arm 38 which is keyed, or otherwise secured to shaft 23 and the upper end of which rests against the face of arm 32.

Upon the continued rotation of cam 27, roller 34 again rides upon the projection 33 of the cam, thus returning arm 35 to its original position and the movement thereby imparted to arm 32 is transmitted to shaft 23 through an arcuate bolt 39 and a compression spring 30 thereabout shown in Fig. 5. Bolt 39 is secured at its inner end in the arm 32 and one end of spring at bears against the head of the boltand the other end against the side of bell crank arm 38. The other arm ll of bell crank arm 38 bears against a part of the machine frame and serves as a stop for limiting the shifting of the plates it under the action of tension spring 28.

It will be understood that spring 26 and cam it are permitted to shift cross rods l9 and plates it to cause a charge of bottles to drop into a case only when there is a full charge of bottles between the plates it, or, that is, within the charge-assembling mechanism 2. The mechanism to control this action will now be described.

As the bottles are shoved by belt it onto rails it and into charge-forming position between the plates Hi, the friction of the bottles in lanes b on belt t presses the bottles between the plates forward, and when all four rows are filled with bottles, the foremost bottle of each row engages and moves a tripping lever it, one of which is at the head of each row in alinement with the rails it. These levers move against tension springs t3 and shift latches lit to the right, as shown in Fig. i, and out of engagement with a latch bar it. These tripping levers W are pivoted on a cross shaft tit, and latch bar it extends crosswise of the end of the machine, as shown in Fig. l and is car ried on two short lever arms H which arepinned to anothe cross shaft M which is parallel with shaft M.

bottles, all four latches 42 are released from latch bar it.

Latch bar 45, however, is still held in its original position unless the case 20 has been raised to its appropriate position with respect to the charge-directingv mechanism, as shown in Fig. 5, by means of the carton elevating device which will be described later. This is accomplished by means of a fifth tripping lever M which, instead of being actuated by the bottles,.is actuated by the raising of the elevating device. For this purpose tripping lever M is connected by means of a link 5M0 a bell crank lever 5! (see Fig. 4) the other arm of which has a laterally projecting pin $2. This pin is engaged and lifted by the upper end of a vertical bar 53 which is fixed at 54 to the side of the elevating device so that when the elevating device is raised, bar 53 rises with it and Y engages pin 52, thereby tripping the fifth tripping lever M.

With all five of the tripping levers t2 and t9 tripped, the latch bar 45 is released and can move upwardly under the tension of a helical spring 55 which is attached to the outer end of an arm 56 which is pinned to shaft w. No motion of arm 56 takes place, however, unless, or until, roller M of arm at is engaged by the projection 36 of the actuating disc cam 21 because of the fact that the friction of the latch about to be described is too great. This latch is indicated by numeral 51 in Fig. 4 and is on the end of an arm '58 which is secured to the outer end of shaft/23. Latch 51 is engaged by a latch plate 59 on the end of an arm it which is loosely pivoted on shaft 58 near arm 5%.

If the charge-assembling mechanism 2 is not filled with bottles, or if no case is in position to receive the charge, so that latch bar 45 is not released, at each rotation of actuating cam 21 when roller is rides onto projection 36, there is a slight rocking of shaft 23 which lifts latch 41 slightly away from the edge of latch plate 59, but the latch immediately settles into place again against the edge of plate 59 when roller M rides off from projection 36. When, however, there is a full charge of bottles in the charge-assembling mechanism and a case in proper position, latch bar it being thereby released, and when roller 34 vThus, when all four'rails it of the. charge-assembling mechanism are filled with the rides onto projection at, as soon as the friction between latch 51 and the edge of latch plate to '66 under tension.

is relieved by the raisingof latch 51, latch plate 59 is immediately snapped to the right, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of tension spring 55, the force of this spring being transmitted to arm til by a pin M fixed to arm M, the left-hand portion of which pin, as shovm in Fig. 2, projects into and engages the bottom of a slot 62 in a link M which is pivoted to the side of arm ht.

As soon as latch 51? drops slightly below the edge of latch plate 59, a sloping cam surface t l which projects from the side of arm ht upon which latch bl is mounted, strikes a roller b5 mounted near the end of arm 5t, thus swinging arm- 56 outwardly and rocking shaft it and resetting latch bar t5 beneath the latch M of latch levers M and it, which have just previously been released by the descent of the charge of bottles into the case 2%. This outward movement of arm tit swings pin ti outwardly within its slot t2, thus placing another helical spring This claps the face of latch plate 59 against the side of latch it. It remains in this position until the shifting of the plates it is completed and they are returned to their normal position in alinement with the guide bars 6 by the continued rotation of cam 21 which brings projection 36 again into engagement with roller M. When, however, during the flnal part of this movement latch 51 is again raised above latch plate .59, the tension of spring 66 causes the latch plate to return into holding position beneath the latch 51. This completes a cycle of operation of the charge-assembling and packing mechanism.

We shall now return to the case-feeding mechanism which is the subject matter of the present invention, and first of all refer briefly to the general sequence of operation.

The cases to be filled are delivered to the machine along the roller conveyor i sometimes in a continuous line in end-to-end contact with one another, and sometimes spaced apart by varying distances. The foremost case is received upon a short timer belt 61! which is continuously driven and which forces the front of the box against a stop 88, 69 consisting of a roller 68 and a pair'of stop fingers 69. At the proper time the left-hand end of belt 61 is raised to free the case from the stop and the belt pushes the box over the stop onto a roller table iii which, together with belt 61!, is inclined at about the same slope as conveyor i and which extends through the machine and out at the left-hand side, as viewed in Figs. 5, l. and 6. The case moves to the left along roller table it until it strikes a second stop roller H, and in so doing, trips a release finger it which causes the elevating device indicated generally by numeral 73 to raise the case to the full line position shown in Fig. 5 as case 20. The case then receives its charge of bottles from the charge-directing mechanism 3 and descends to its original position on roller table iii shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thereupon the stop roller H is withdrawn downwardly from in front of the case, thus permitting the case to roll by gravity along the roller table out of the machine at the lefthand side where it may be discharged onto another conveyor, not shown, similar to conveyor i by which it is to be conveyed to the next operation or to a shipping or storage department.

The raising of timing belt at to lift the foremost case over the stop 6b, ts, and the resetdriven by a chain 18 from low speed shaft I5-of the reduction gearing I2, and a clutch member 18 which is keyed to shaft 15, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 7. Also keyed to shaft alongside of clutch member 18 is a cam 88 by means of which the desired actions referred to are pro- 15 duced, but which will be referred to more in detail presently.

The one-revolution clutch 14 is set in operation,that 'is to say, cam 88 is given therebya single rotation, by the movement of the stop fingers 88 to the left (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) by the pressure of the front face of a case on the timer belt. Such movement of these fingers can occur whenever the preceding case has been cleared from the packing machine, but not otherwise. 2

andthe mechanism for providing such control will be described later.

Stop roller 68- is provided with recesses 8| opposite these fingers, as shown in Fig. 6, both to permit this motion and also to enable the surface of the stop roller to assist timer belt 61 in lifting the front end of the case over the stop fingers 68. Since fingers 69 are fixed to a shaft 82 which extends crosswise of the roller table 18, their movement under the pressure of the 5 front end of the case causes this shaft to rock slightly. On one end of this shaft opposite the one-revolution clutch 14, there is a downwardly extending arm 83 which is connected by means of a link 84 to a clutch control lever 85 which 40 is loosely mounted towards the outer end of a cross shaft 86.

On the upper end 'of clutch control lever 85 there is a roller 81 which, in its normal position,

engages the lower surface of the tall 88 of a dog 88, which is pivoted at 88 to one arm of clutch member 18. When stop fingers 88 are moved to the left, as shown in Fig. '7, by a case on timing belt 61, the upper end of clutch control lever 85 together with its roller 81 is moved in the same direction and disengages tail 88, thereby permitting dog 89 to be pulled into engagement by means of a helical spring with the continuously rotating star, wheel 18.

Shaft 15 and cam 88 are thus started on their single revolution in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 7. Shortly after the tall 88 of dog 88 is carried around sufficiently by the rotation of the shaft to be clear of roller 81, this roller is moved back into its original position by the movement of clutch control member 85, as will also be described later on. Therefore, as soon as shaft 18 completes a single revolution, tail 88 again engages roller 81, thus pulling the head of the dog out of engagement with the star wheel 18 and causing the rotation of shaft 19 to stop. In order to prevent back lash, a springpressed latch lever 8|, which is raised by the rotation of arm 82 of the clutch member snaps back against the rear side of this arm just 0 as the single revolution is completed.

Cam 88 is provided with a single, relatively narrow projection, as illustrated, which as it commences to rotate at first engages a roller 93 which actuates resetting mechanism later to This clutch comprises a 5 be described, and immediately thereafter a second roller 88. This roller effects the raising ofthe left-hand end of timer belt 81 which frees the case from the stop 68, 88 and permits it to enter the packing machine. For this purpose, roller 84 is mounted upon the end of a short arm 85 which is fixed to the outer end of a rock shaft 88 which extends crosswise beneath roller table 18. Also fixed upon this shaft beneath the roller table are a pair of arms 81, and at the outer ends of these arms there are two links 88 which serve to raise shaft 98 of a roller I88 over which the left-hand end of timer belt 61 passes.

Shaft 98 is held in proper spaced relation from shaft I8I upon which the driving roller for belt 81 is mounted by means of a pair of spacer rods I82. Shaft IN is driven by means of a chain I83 from a sprocket I88 also on the low speed shaft I5 of reduction gearing I2.

20,, The case which has been elevated by timer belt 61 over the stop 88, 68 slides by gravity along the inclined roller table 18 until it strikes finger 12 and stop roller 1|, the latter being appropriately positioned to place the case ver- 5 tically below the charge-directing mechanism 3.

Both stop roller 1| and finger 12 are carried between a pair of crooked arms I85, one at each side of the roller table 18, and pinned upon a rock shaft I86 which is journalled in the frame 0 members I81 which support the rollers of this roller table.

The crooked arms I85 slope upwardly toward the right, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, and then turn vertically downward. At about the point where they turn downward, they are provided with bosses I88 in which the bearings of stop roller 1| are journalled. A short distance below this point they are provided with a second set of bosses I88 in which a rock shaft 8 is journalled and at the center of which finger 12 is fixed. The movement of finger 12 by the case rocks shaft 8 and causes a pair of arms III at each end of the rock shaft'to raise pins II2 which project laterally from the sides of the short arms of a pair of bell crank latch levers II3. This swings the longer arms of these bell crank levers to the left, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, thereby disengaging them from the elevating device 13 and causing this device to move upwardly raising the case from its position on the roller table 18 into charge-receiving position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism 3.

The elevating device 13 comprises a pair of vertical rods Ill which are arranged to move vertically in suitable slide bearings II5 which are mounted upon the machine casing. At their upper ends, each of these rods has fixed thereto a horizontal member 6 shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and secured between these horizontal members .at equal distances from the rods 8 are two lifting bars 1 which serve to lift the case. These bars are narrow enough to pass freely between the rollers of roller table 18 and are offset downwardly at their central portion between the frame members I81, as shown in I20. This shaft is joumalled in suitable bracketssecured to the machine frame and. near its outer ends is provided with a pair of arms I2I which are slotted at their ends to engage respectively a pair of pins I22 which project inwardly from bosses I23 on the sides of the vertical rods IN near their lower ends. The bell crank latch levers H3 engage these same pins I 22. it will be understood, therefore, that when these latches are released by the engagement of the case with fingers I2, weight II8 will descend from the dotted position shown in Fig. 5, to the yieldable plates I24 extend downwardly below the top of the case when a case is being filled which is not provided with cell divisions, or when the partitioning devices do not extend to the top of the case. In the case which is illustrated, however, the partitioning devices forming the individual compartments for the bottles extend clear to the top of the walls of the case itself and therefore only the flexible fingers I25 project downwardly below the top of the case and the top of the partitioning devices when the case is in proper'iilling position.

These flexible fingers I25, it may be ex-' plained, are provided for the purpose of guiding the individual bottles into their individual compartments and preventing the bottoms of the bottles from impinging against the tops of the partitioning devices. Also when the partitioning devices are made of yieldable, or flexible, material such as paper, fibreboard, corrugated board, or the like, fingers I25 serve to shift these yieldable partitions into proper position. Fingers I25 are mounted in part on the lower edges of supporting rails It and in part on transverse parallel plates I26 shown in Figs. 4 and and positioned at right angles to rails It and II and arranged on the same spacing as these rails and thereby subdividing the spaces between the rails into individual bottle chutes. These plates I26 are preferably provided with Vshaped notches in their upper edges as shown in Fig. 5, which assist in separating the individual bottles of each row as the charge descends through the chargedirecting mechanism into the case.

As soon as the case is elevated by the elevating device it out of the dotted position shown in Fig. 5, finger It is released and is returned to its normal position by means of a pair of helical springs, the upper ends of which are connected to the short horizontal arms of the bell crank latches H3. These springs move these latches back into position to be engaged by the pins I22 as soon as the elevating device again descends. Through pins Iii pressing downwardly on arms III, these springs also force these arms downwardly against their stop pins I21! which are carried in suitable projections from the projections on the crooked arms IIIE, and this movement returns finger It to its normal position.

As soon as the-case it is elevated by the elevating device I3, assuming that a complete charge of bottles is already within the bottleassembling mechanism 2, the raising of bar 53, which is attached to the elevating device I3, into contact with pin 52 of bell crank 5| causes the releasing of the mechanism which shifts plates III to the right, as shown in Fig. 5 and causes the charge of bottles to descend into the case. The weight of the charge overbalances the weight H8 and causes the elevating device I3 to be lowered to its original position in which it is latched and held by the bell crank latches H3 re-engaging the pins I22.

During the final downward movement of the elevating device I3, the latch mechanism is tripped, which causes the stop roller II to drop below .the front corner of the case and the case rolls forward by gravity along the roller table II! and out of the machine. This mechanism comprises a latch bar I28 which is pivoted to the frame at I29 and held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of a spring I30. In this position the latch engages'a short arm I3I which is fixed to the outer end of rock shaft I66 to which crooked arms I05 are secured. To release this latch, bar 53 which is carried by the cross head of elevating device I3 is provided with a downward extension shown in Figs. 5 and 10 at the lower end of which is a laterally projecting pin I32. This pin, at the very end of the downward movement of elevating device I3, engages a laterally projecting cam surface I33 (Figs. 9 and 6) which is carried by latch bar I28 in a manner which will be presently described.v Pin I32 forces this cam surface both downwardly and to the right, as shown in Figs. 9 and 5, and before reaching the end of its down movement, pin I32 passes by the left-hand end of cam surface I33 and releases the same. The downward swing of latch lever I28 caused thus is sufficient to release the latch from its engagement with the short arm I3, and the release of they cam surface I33 by pin I32 permits the latch to be immediately returned to relatchable position against the rounded surface of the righthand side of arm iii.

In order to permit pin I32 to move upwardly on the next operation of elevating device I3, cam surface I33 is not fixed directly to the side of latch bar I28 but is fixed to a small lever flit which is pivoted on the side of this latch bar and normally held in position against a stop pin I35 by means of a helical spring I 36. On the downward movement, the force of pin I32 is transmitted through cam surface I33 and the small lever will to pin I35 and thence to latch bar I28. On the upward movement pin I32 ergages the lower side'of cam surface I33 and swings lever IZ-I I freely about its pivot tensloning spring I35 which returns the lever against the stop pin as soon as it has been released.

The release of the short arm I M by latch bar lit enables a tension spring ItI aided by gravity to swing the crooked arms IE5 and stop roller II downwardly below the surface of the rollers ofroller table It and out of the path of the case. This downward position of these parts is illus-- trated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This carries arms I II of the finger l2 mechanism downwardly out of operative engagement with pins H2, but they are returned to operating position before they are required to release the elevating de vice for the next succeeding case, as will appear presently. I

As hereinbefore mentioned, a new case must not be fed over the stops 6 8, 88 until the preceding case has been filled and ejected from the machine. In order to provide against this, a locking arm I38 is provided on the clutch control lever 85 for the one-revolution clutch. This arm is fixed to the same hub from which the lower and upper arms of the clutch control lever project, so that by holding locking arm I38 against downward movement, roller-81 is held beneath the tail 88 of the dog 89 of the onerevolution clutch, and fingers 69 are prevented from moving under the pressure of the forward end of the case and therefore serve as stops so long as this status quo is maintained. In order to lock arm I38 against downward movement, a long rod, or pin, I39 (Fig. 3) is secured to an extension I40 at the lower end of one of the crooked arms I05 of the mechanism for supporting the stop roller II. Hence, as long as I stop r011 'II is in its upward position in which it holds a case upon roller table III, this rod I 39 by engaging locking arm I38 causes fingers 68 to serve as stops holding back on the timing belt 61 any case which presents itself on this belt before the carton 20 has been lowered and cleared from the machine.

As soon, however, as carton 28 has been released by the dropping of stop roll II, rod I38 drops away from locking arm I38 so that if a carton is resting against stop 53, or as soon as a case engages this stop, the one-revolution clutch is again actuated to feed the case into the machine. The first action of cam 88 after being set in motion by the tripping of the onerevolution clutch, however, is to reset stop ll in its normal or uppermost position, so that the stop will be ready to receive the succeeding-case as soon as it is delivered over the stops 88, 68. The mechanism for such resetting is as follows: As mentioned above, cam BI], when its rotation commences upon the tripping of the one-revolution clutch, first engages a roller 93 and then the roller 94 which actuates the lifting mechanism for timing belt 61. Roller 83 actuates the resetting mechanism and, for this purpose is mounted upon a short arm HlI (Fig. 9) which is fixed upon cross shaft 86 adjacent cam 88. Fixed to this shaft at this same point, butextending in the opposite direction, and also fixed to the opposite end of shaft 86, are two longer arms I42 which are parallel with one another and which are tied together at their outer ends by means of a cross rod I43 (Figs. 6 and 4) Extending nearly vertically upwardfrom cross rod I 43 and inside of the frame members II]? of roller table are a pair of links which, at their upper ends are provided with slotted portions I65.

These slotted portions receive the ends of the shaft I 46 of the stop roller II. When the stop roller II drops from infront of the filled-case to allow the case to pass out of the machine, the bottoms of the slots in slotted portions I45 serve as stops to limit the downward movement of the stop roller and of the two crooked arms I05. It will 'be remembered that the final down ward movementof the elevating device I3 causes pin I32 to engage cam surface I33 and trip the latch I28, thereby releasing it from arm I8I and permitting the dropping of the stop roller and the crooked arms under the action of spring Now, under the resetting action of cam 88 operating on roller 93, shaft 86 is rocked, raising arms I42 and slotted links I44, thereby lifting stop roller 'II' to its originalposition above roller bed III and causing latch bar I28 to re-engage itself behind the arm I 3| and hold the crooked arms I and roll II in the raised position. As

. soon as roller 93 is disengaged by the projection on cam 80, the resetting mechanism is again lowered leaving the upper end of the slotted portions I45 of links I resting on the shaft I48 of stop roller II. This supports the various parts of the resetting mechanism and also leaves the stop roller II free to descend when the next succeeding case is filled and ready to be discharged from the packing machine. 1

With the case-feeding mechanism which has been provided by the present invention, the cases are automatically and successively brought accurately into proper registry with the charge-directing mechanism 3 which, in filling position, extends below the top of the case, and this is accomplished without bending, or otherwise manipulating any part of this charge-directing mechanism. The charge-assembling and packing mechanism is properly coordinated with the case-feeding mechanism, so that the cases are fed into the machine rapidly, as fast as the successive charges are assembled ready to be packed, but at the same time it is impossible for a charge to'be released by the packing mechanism before the case is in its proper registry with the chargedirecting mechanism.

A new case, that is, a succeeding case, cannot be fed into the machine until the preceding case has been packed and e iected. Hence, if the cases are fed to the machine in a continuous line in end to end contact, the line will be held back by the fingers 69 serving as stops as long as the preceding case is either on the roller table It in front of stop roller II, or on the elevating device 13. Moreover, it is impossible for the next succeeding carton to be admitted to the machine until the carton discharging or ejecting mechanism has completed that function and been reset in proper position to receive the next succeeding case. i

I claim:

1. In an article-packing machine, a chargeassembling mechanism, charge-directing mechanism for receiving an assembled charge and through which the same is dropped into a case, a conveyor for cases to be filled extending beneath the charge-directing mechanism, an elevating device for raising the cases one at a time from the conveyor into charge-receiving position beneath the charge-directing mechanism, and feeding mechanism for delivering the cases one at a time to the elevating device comprising a stop roller positioned above the surface of the conveyor to engage the front end of the foremost case, said roller having a peripheral groove therein, means for simultaneously lifting and feeding the foremost case over said stop roller, and means for controlling the actuation of said lifting and feeding means including a finger opposite the groove in the stop roller and normally positioned outside of the groove and adapted when engaged by the case to move into the groove to enable the stop roller to assist in raising the case over the top 01 said finger.

2. In an article-packing machine, chargeassembling mechanism, charge-directing mechanism for receiving an assembled charge and through which the same is dropped into a case, a conveyor for delivering beneath the chargedirecting mechanism a continuous line of cases to be filled, elevating mechanism for raising a aasaiar sition with respect to'the charge-directingmechanism, means for removing the filled case from the machine, means cooperating with the conveyor for feeding the cases one at a time into position to be elevated by the elevating device, and means for restraining the feeding mechanism from feeding a, succeeding case to the elevating device until the preceding case has been removed.

3. In an article-packing machine, a chargeassembling mechanism, charge-directing mechanism for receiving an assembled charge and through which the same is dropped into a case, a conveyor for delivering a continuous line of cases to be filled beneath the charge-directing mechanism, elevating mechanism for raising a case from the conveyor into charge-receiving position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism, means for removing the filled case from the machine, means cooperating with the conveyor ior feeding the cases one at a time into position to be elevated by the elevating device, and means actuated by the removing mechanism for restraining the feeding mechanism from feeding a succeeding case to the elevating device until the preceding case has been removed.

4. In an I article-packing machine, chargeassembling mechanism for assembling a charge of articles in upright position and arranged in a geometric formation to correspond with the case to be filled, charge-directing mechanism for receiving the assembled charge and through which the same is dropped into the case, the charge-assembling mechanism including means for releasing the charge into the charge-directing mechanism, a conveyor for cases to be filled extending beneath the charge-directing mechanism, an elevating device for raising the cases one at a time from said conveyor into chargereceiving position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism, means operating during the final upward movement of said elevating device for actuating said releasing means thus causing the charge to drop into the case, and means for removing the case from the machine, said means being set in operation by the dropping of said charge.

5. In an article-packing machine a chargeassernbling mechanism, charge directing mecha neaththe charge-directing mechanism, a pair of stops arranged in spaced relation on said con. veyor and adapted to stop the advance of cases along said conveyor, an elevating device between said stops for raising the case thereover into charge-receiving. position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism and for lowering the filled case to the conveyor, mechanism for releasing the foremost case on the conveyor from said first stop to cause it to advance into position over said elevating device, means actuated by the case adjacent said second stop for initiating the operation of said elevating device to cause the same to raise said case to receive a charge or articles and then lower the filled case to the conveyor, means actuated by the final downward movement of the elevating device for withdrawneath the charge-directing mechanism, a pair of stops arranged in spaced relation on said conveyor and adapted to stop the advance of cases along said conveyor, an elevating device between said stops for raising the case thereover into charge-receiving position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism and for lowering I the filled case to .the conveyor, mechanism for releasing the foremost case on the conveyor from said first stop to cause it to advance into position nism for receiving an assembled charge and I through which the same is dropped into a case, a conveyor for cases to be filled extending beneath the charge-directing mechanism, a pair of stops arranged in spaced relation on said conveyor and adapted to stop the advance of cases along said conveyor, an elevating device between saidstops for raising the case thereover into charge-receiving position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism and for lowering the filled case to the conveyor, mechanism for releasing theforemost case on the conveyor from said first stop to cause it to advance into position over said elevating device, means actuated by the case adjacent said second stop forinitiating the operation of said elevating device to cause the same to raise said case to receive a charge of articles and then lower the filled case to the conveyor, and means actuated by the final down ward movement of the elevating device for withdrawing said second stop to permit said-conveyor to carry the filled case out of the machine.

6. In an article-packing machine a chargeassembling mechanism, charge-directing mechanism for receiving an assembled charge and through which the same is dropped into a case, a conveyor for cases to he'filled extending beover said elevating device, means actuated by the case adjacent said second stop for initiating the operation of said elevating device to cause the same to raise said case to receive a charge or articles and then lower the filled case to the conveyor, and means for withdrawingsaid second stop to permit said conveyor to carry the filled case out of the machine.

8. In an article-packing machine a chargeassembling mechanism, charge-directing mechanism for receiving an assembled charge and through which the same is dropped into a case, a conveyor for cases to be filled extending beneath the charge-directing mechanism, a pair of stops arranged in spaced relation on said conveyor and adapted to stop the advance of cases along saidconveyor, an elevating device between said stops for raising the case thereover into charge-receiving position with respect to the charge-directing mechanism and for lowering the adjacent said second stop for initiating the operation of said elevating device to cause the same to raise said case to receive a charge ofarticles and then lower the filled case to the conveyor, means for withdrawing said second stop to permit said conveyor to carry the filled case out of the machine, and means for resetting said second stop.

9. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for cases to be filled, an elevating device for raising the cases one at a time from the con veyor into charge-receiving position, and feeding mechanismfor delivering the cases one at a time to the elevating device comprising a stop roller positioned above the surface of the conin, means for simultaneously lifting and feeding the foremost case over said stop roller, and means for controlling the actuation of said lifting and feeding means including" a finger opposite the groove in the stop roller and normally positioned outside of the groove and adapted when engaged by the case to move into the groove to enable the stop roller to assist in raising the case over the top of said finger.

10. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for a continuous line of cases to be filled, elevating mechanism for raising a case from the conveyor into charge-receiving position above the conveyor, means for removing the filled case from the machine, means cooperating with the conveyor for feeding the cases one at a time veyor to engage the front end of the foremost case, said roller having a peripheral groove therefor raising the case thereover into charge-reinto position to be elevated by the elevatingmechanism, and means actuated by the removing means for restraining the feeding mechanism from feeding a succeeding case to the elevating mechanism until the preceding case has been removed.

11. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for cases to be filled, a pair of stops arranged in spaced relation on said conveyor and adapted to stop the advance of cases along said conveyor, an elevating device between said stops for raising the case thereover into charge-receiving position and for lowering the filled case to the conveyor, mechanism for releasing the foremost case on the conveyor from said first stop to cause it to advance into position over said elevating device, means actuated by the case adjacent said second stop for initiating the operation of said elevating device to cause the same to raise said case to receive a charge of articles and then lower the filled case to the conveyor, and mechanism for withdrawing said second stop to permit said conveyor to carry the filled case out of the machine. I

12. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for cases to be filled, a pair of stops arranged in spaced relation on said conveyor and ceiving position and for lowering the filled case to the conveyor, mechanism for releasing the foremost case on the conveyor from said first stop to cause it to advance into position over said elevating device, means actuated by the case adja- ,cent said second stop for initiating the operation of said elevating device to cause the same to raise said case to receive a charge of articles and then lower the filled case to the conveyor, means for withdrawing said second stop to permit said conveyor to carry the filled case out of the machine, and means for resetting said second stop.

13. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for cases and mechanism for controlling the advance of cases thereon comprising a stop roller positioned above the surface of the conveyor to engage the front end of the foremost case, said roller having a peripheral recess therein, means for simultaneously lifting and feeding the foremost case over said stop roller and means for controlling the actuation of said lifting and feeding means including a finger opposite the recess in the stop roller and normally positioned outside of the recess and adapted when engaged by the case to move into the recess to enable the stop roller to assist in raising the case over the top of said finger.

14.111 a machine of the character described, a

conveyor for cases and mechanism for controlling the advance of cases thereon comprising a stop positioned above the surface of the conveyor to against the stop, means connecting said finger with said controlling means and means for preventing the operation of said connecting means under predetermined conditions.

WALLACE D. KIMBALL. 

